Believe it or not, we’re halfway through the season already. Only two episodes to go before the hometown dates and when things are going to reeeeeeealllly get interesting. I know I say this every season, but it is funny how it takes them one month of real time to get from 29 girls down to 4, but then it takes three weeks of real time to get from 4 down to 1. Shows you how many insignificant cast members there are on any given season. This season is no different. 10 girls are headed to Paris, which is usually about 1-2 more than usually are still around by episode 6. So I guess good for them that a few lucked out and got to travel overseas at this point, even though us as viewers have seen very little of their connection with Arie. I’m speaking mostly about Jenna. Usually there’s around 8 left in episode 6, then 6 in left in episode 7 right before hometowns. This time it’s 10 and 7 respectively. Really no rhyme or reason to it, but it’s interesting to note for future seasons. I’m just gearing up for what we have coming at the end. Sure all these other dates are fine and dandy, but what do they really mean in the long run? The only thing to really pay attention to is basically any interaction he has with his final two girls, and even THAT is sufficient enough since we know how it plays out. Just get me to the finale and save us all from these next few episodes. I beg you.

Just wanted to remind anyone interested in attending the Reality Steve Fan Appreciation Party in Las Vegas on Friday, June 8th, there are still spots available. I know it’s still 4 months away, but I will be periodically reminding people as we go since I know people like booking at the last minute. Which is fine, but I cannot guarantee there will be spots available if you wait that late. If you’re interested in coming, email me at steve@realitysteve.com with how many people would be coming and their names. If you’re flying in, a confirmation of your flight itinerary gets you confirmed for the party. If you’re driving or are local, you just need to email me a hotel confirmation. It’s an open beer and wine bar along with some food for the duration of the party, we have a trivia contest with prizes for the top 2 finishers, and other than that, just a rollicking good time. Might have a few Bachelor Nation people attend this year that I’m still working on. I will let you know as soon as they’re confirmed.

Another one of Arie’s exes, Giustina Lee, spoke out last week to the tabloids saying Arie had also been in contact with her since he got back from filming – but she never picked up the phone. Geez. Did he just get back and rip through all his exes on speed dial? That’s now 3 that we know of – Giustina, Sydney, and obviously he’s been in touch with Courtney. Just like I said to Sydney in the podcast, it’s obvious why he contacted them – to smooth things over and make sure they didn’t say anything negative about him to the press. That seems to have backfired. But for all those who trashed Sydney after the podcast, and are immediately jumping on Giustina for just being some ex looking to extend her 15 minutes, or just some random who barely knew him trying to keep her name out there, social media clearly shows Arie has spent A LOT of time with Giustina over the years. She says since 2013. Well since 2015 (that’s as far back as I went before I stopped looking), there’s plenty of photographic evidence of them together. Lets run it all down, shall we?

In 2015, they dressed up together for Halloween…

In 2016, she tweeted out a picture collage of them for his birthday that clearly showed numerous pictures of them together dating back a few years…
Just this past August, she was FaceTiming him…

About 4 days later, they were together with a group…

Then a few days after that, Arie and Giustina were at Top Golf together in Vegas…(first pic she posted the actual night they were together, but Arie wasn’t in it. The second pic was posted the day he was announced as the “Bachelor,” but it was from the night of them at Top Golf together)

And on the day he was announced as the “Bachelor,” when I tweeted out the first information I’d received about Sydney, Giustina responded with this tweet to me…

A quick look at Giustina’s IG (currently set to private) and you’ll see there’s absolutely nothing on there that screams “law student.” Nor is she ANYTHING like Becca or Lauren. Do I think Arie and Giustina were ever in a serious, committed, monogamous relationship? No. But he certainly spent a lot of time with her. There’s no need to bring Giustina on the podcast or what not. She said what she said in that article and her photographic evidence of years of hanging out with him is all you need to know. It’s always fun to be right. I just let Arie’s actions speak for itself. Go ahead. Continue to make excuses for him. It’s really funny how creative people can get with their narratives that none of this is his fault, when anyone living in reality could’ve seen something like this coming from a mile away.

For those that didn’t listen to last Thursday’s podcast with the Possessionista Dana Weiss, there was something we talked about that I want to hit on again since I feel it’s important. One of the popular responses I’ve gotten to last Tuesday’s spoiler reveal is that somehow Lauren went behind Becca’s back and what not. I can tell you that didn’t happen. You can absolutely question Lauren’s decision making in all this and why she’d actually believe a word that comes out of this guy’s mouth, and that’s fair game. But I can report to you that she did nothing wrong in the interim. Arie was the one who reached out to her first. Picking up the phone and hearing what he had to say isn’t wrong. Sure, everything after that you can question, but there was no secret relationship going on between Arie and Lauren while he was engaged to Becca. This was all Arie’s doing. He was conflicted, he was confused, he reached out, and obviously Lauren didn’t slam the phone down. Becca knew Arie was struggling with his decision, however, I don’t think she felt he’d actually go through with breaking off the engagement. My understanding is she thought they would work through it. It’ll be really interesting to hear what every party has to say come the finale.

Speaking of Lauren, as I mentioned in the last couple weeks, she used to be engaged to minor league hockey player Chris Crane (who by the way attended high school at the same time as Sydney in Ohio. Of course they did). Chris and Lauren got engaged in July of 2016, and set a wedding date of July 2017, but Lauren broke off the engagement in December of 2016. Didn’t take much to do a Google search and find these photos from their engagement day on Chris’ mother’s Facebook page:

Her page is public, but I’m guessing it won’t be much longer. If you find it before she turns it private, there’s also about a 1 min video of Chris actually proposing that day. The good thing is that the relationship has been over a full year before everything went down with Arie. However, there is a part of me that thinks the broken engagement played a role in her taking Arie back. Ultimately, it’s her decision and she can do whatever she wants with her life. Personally, I think it’s a giant mistake given everything we know about him and what his track record shows. Unfortunately, I think she’ll end up learning the hard way. Only time will tell. Good luck you two!

24 Comments

adelina

January 30, 2018 at 11:24 AM

Steve, what you forgot to mention is the ludicrous and completely gross scene of Arie licking the bowling ball!!! It was so odd and disturbing. Clearly producer encouraged, but who agrees to do that? Oh I know….a closeted dude who actually likes to lick balls.

missrubikscube

January 30, 2018 at 11:36 AM

I think a lot of people were grossed out by the bowling ball licking! It’s actually a reference to a scene from The Big Lebowski (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cYQ-1O5cmE) – but i’m not sure how many people caught that!

rob22

January 30, 2018 at 12:13 PM

I know this show is built on drama and it would be even more boring trying to weed through 20 girls without something else going on. But the scenes with Krystal are painful to watch. She’s obviously extremely self absorbed, and by that I mean more self absorbed than the average self absorbed contestant. But it just amazes me how these women can completely implode on national TV. I’m trying to feel sorry for her, but not succeeding. I think everyone can partially relate to being disappointed that Arie chose to invite everyone to the cocktail party. But the gig is that Arie and the Producers can do whatever they want. If they can make girls drink donkey semen and fake pee, they can also change who comes to the cocktail party. Honestly, I’d be more upset about the former than the latter. I think most people would. Did Krystal not get the memo?

Bekah creates a lot of dissonance. She’s 22, so she’s very young. But her conversations are less superficial than expected. She actually seems to be pretty intelligent and able to keep up a good adult conversation without having to stop and explain things to her. I know that’s a low bar, but for the show, that passes for maturity. But she’s a Nanny. Is she in college, or something and doing Nanny duties on the side to pay her tuition… and they just threw up Nanny by her name for giggles? Because once you’re adult aged, if you’re a Nanny, you’ve pretty much failed at getting a decent job. It’s pretty close to a minimum wage job. As in, college wasn’t my thing, so I decided to be a Nanny while I figured out what I was going to do. Or, after working on a cruise ship for a few years I decided that the travel was too crazy, so now I’m a Nanny. The whole thing doesn’t totally add up for me. Obviously she’s too young for Arie the gray haired f-boy, but she’s more intelligent & more mature than 90% of the other girls. In fact, she’s possibly more intelligent and mature than any of the other girls. I know. Low bar. What am I missing here with Bekah?

j1scarlett

January 30, 2018 at 2:21 PM

@rob22 Nanny jobs, at least around where I live in the NJ/NY area, pay way more than minimum wage. I made $20 an hour as a Nanny last year. It paid better than my current job as a paralegal. I’ve had plenty of “decent” jobs, but I was happier and better paid as a nanny. Oh, and I have an MBA, which has been fairly useless.

“Because once you’re adult aged, if you’re a Nanny, you’ve pretty much failed at getting a decent job. It’s pretty close to a minimum wage job. As in, college wasn’t my thing, so I decided to be a Nanny while I figured out what I was going to do.” WTH? Do some research, Rob.

atlfan

January 30, 2018 at 5:25 PM

Fun recap, Steve! You didn’t mention Arie’s conversation with the cute little old lady bowlers at the very end. I loved that! It was actually charming (not my go-to adjective for this show).

ladyjane747

January 30, 2018 at 6:49 PM

Wow, that conversation with Lauren was total foreshadowing! Love watching this show knowing what I know. Bekah M. bugs me for some reason and Krystal is just out there. I do feel kind of sorry for her.

upmyalley

January 30, 2018 at 8:00 PM

I can’t feel sorry for Krystal. Everything she says about the other women is exactly what she is herself. She’s very insecure, jealous, immature and fake fake fake. I wish I could see her face as she’s watching herself come across as a psycho and a narcissist. I bet she is cringing and wanting to slit her own throat. Another 5th degree clincher bites the dust.

tinyred500

January 31, 2018 at 12:33 AM

@rob22 There are nannies and there are nannies, but any half decent one has some qualifications. However, Norland Nannies are the crème de la crème in the nanny world. Their salaries start at £25k and they can earn anything up to £225k (or $35.5k – $335k) per year depending on their experience etc. Nothing to be sniffed at there.

I have to say though Arie licking that bowling ball was just gross. I know it was based on a scene from the film The Big Lebowski, but even so…just nasty to watch! Put me off my tea! 🙁

jlal

January 31, 2018 at 8:02 AM

So, happy others have already address the ignorant comments about being a Nanny. Most of the Nannies I have known have at least Bachelor degrees if not Masters. It is a very high paying, important career. I think Rob is confusing being a teenage babysitter with being a Nanny, which is like confusing a teenager who cuts grass and a professional landscaper. Two very different things. However, I do agree with Rob that Bekah seems to be the most emotionally intelligent and very mature for her age. She could just be getting the better edit to though.

As for the show, it was one of the most interesting to date. Krystal is a manipulative, narcissistic, emotionally high-maintenance insecure, beeotch. This time her attempt at manipulating Arie failed and she knew it too. That is why she tried to salvage the situation by showing up at the cocktail party, which backfired too. He should have sent her home, but I’m sure production told him she had to stay for drama value.

I think Tia would make a good next bachelorette. She would bring some spice and honesty, plus she is well educated and intelligent unlike some past bachelorettes. Bekah would work too from the interesting and intelligent stand point, but is just too young to take her wanting to marry seriously.

rob22

January 31, 2018 at 8:11 AM

Sorry if I booted the Nanny pay. But it wasn’t just a shot in the dark. I’ve worked with a few Nannies, all immigrants, on their finances and they were getting around $10/hour, or less. It’s good to know that some can make better money. I always felt like these women were being paid pretty poorly. And, perhaps as immigrants… I don’t know if they had legal status… they had to live with that kind of pay. Regardless, for Bekah, since she’s at UCI, that answered my question. Yes, she’s doing it on the side & the show decided to put that up on the screen instead of “Art Student”. I wonder about their motives for that.

jlal

January 31, 2018 at 8:14 AM

Forgot to say that I was happy that Arie was tough on Krystal and burst her little manipulating bubble with the “…it may be our last fight too…” comment. The look on her face was priceless. She knew then she had overplayed her hand.

And, to address earlier comments about Arie being in the closet. I know as friends/family and work with a lot of gay people. I don’t get the gay vibe at all with Arie. Heck, no self respecting gay man would wear jeans, t-shirt and tennis shoes to a nice dinner or on a nice date. That right there is an American straight man fashion faux pas all the way.

Also, I don’t get RS making a big deal out of Giustina. They obviously have been friends with benefits for years. So what? I have had FWB and though now married are still friends (though without the benefits) with them still. Don’t understand the significance of that relationship to he being the bachelor. He was single and had a FWB, okay…

jlal

January 31, 2018 at 10:08 AM

Rob, if they have a motive at all for listing her actual profession as Nanny vs. student, it may be to make her look more responsible and older.

jlal

January 31, 2018 at 10:12 AM

Also Rob, it wasn’t that you “…booted the Nanny pay…” It was that you dissed the entire profession by saying Nanny’s failed at getting a decent job. Being a Nanny is a decent career/job, no matter the pay. Most Nanny’s I know make more than the Social Workers I know. Both do really worthwhile, important work. Pay doesn’t always dictate the value of a profession.

tjudd

January 31, 2018 at 11:52 AM

I am going to disagree with you on the nanny thing! I had a college degree, taught for 5 years, lost my job due to the economy & became a full-time nanny ( for over 10 years). Let’s just say it wasn’t minimum wage! I was making as much, if not more than, when I was teaching. I only worked M-F, 40 hrs. Don’t knock someone’s job if you’ve not done it. Also, not a fan of Bekah at.all. She grates my nerves & needs to grow that 12 year old boy haircut out! Lol

tjudd

January 31, 2018 at 11:55 AM

Exactly! I live in South FL & was a nanny for several years afer graduating college & working a “decent” job. Made more then than I do now at a “decent” job! Lol.

wpeate

January 31, 2018 at 1:59 PM

Hi Steve, did you see that Courtney Robertson and Arie’s Instagram stories show the same scene with charcuterie?

debb0

January 31, 2018 at 8:03 PM

Have to chime in on “The Nanny” thing as well…my son’s girlfriend has a 4 year college degree in communications, but unable to find a job in that area. So with student loans & bills to pay, she babysits, waitresses, & is a salesperson. Can’t always judge & assume.

beapancake

February 2, 2018 at 5:05 AM

Thank you for linking. Mind boggling people don’t know about this film!

beapancake

February 2, 2018 at 5:08 AM

Nannies I know make at least $15 an hour

katieottawa

February 4, 2018 at 4:20 AM

seriously not one person commented grease 2?? its grease 2 people!! WAY more entertaining than discussing this farce.

steve had the exact same thought as me. as they were on the bowling date right away i thought of grease 2 especially with that 50’s looking girl on the date. i thought they missed the boat when no one named their team pink ladies.

one of the best recaps in a long time because you referenced grease 2 and had the videos of the songs uploaded. as for the show and these brainless bimbos fighting over a dbag i couldnt care less. ill take michelle pfeiffer and maxwell caulfield anyday

i relate to steve. I am a grease buff. love both grease equally. i used to have grease parties where i played both movies and soundtracks and we would reenact all the scenes and dances. yes i proudly admit to being a nerd in my teens.

and the scene when handsome maxwell caulfield removes his helmet with his hair disheveled. oh. my. god.

arie is no maxwell caulfield when he removes his racecar helmet i can guarantee you that ladies.

shanna429

February 6, 2018 at 6:21 PM

Well I doubt she is going to college because at one point she ran off to work at a marijuana farm. Although I’m not 100% if that’s true.

shanna429

February 6, 2018 at 6:24 PM

I doubt it. She won’t see herself that way because she’s clueless and self absorbed.